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Origin and history

The Tower of the Sorcières de Châtenois, located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Grand Est region, is a 15th century fortified gate. It was one of the entrances to Châtenois Castle, a defensive complex also including the church and cemetery, owned by the bishop of Strasbourg since the 12th century. This castle, engaged several times in the 15th century, was acquired in 1489 by the great chapter of the cathedral of Strasbourg, which retained its property until the Revolution. Today, there are only two walls of this complex, a ditch and the tower of the Witches, built in stoneware stoneware with bossing chains, covered with a rumped roof.

The name "Tower of Witches" comes from historical confusion: it originally referred to another tower, destroyed in 1927, which served as a dungeon for those accused of witchcraft. This missing tower, located in the church axis, was dated 1432 and was integrated into a broader defensive system, including a 14th century monetary workshop. The episcopal home, whose location might correspond to the present presbytery, has disappeared on an indeterminate date. The present Witch Tower, classified as a historic monument in 1932, is now owned by the municipality of Châtenois.

The fortified assembly of Châtenois illustrates the strategic importance of the small Alsatian villages in the Middle Ages, often controlled by bishops or religious chapters. The presence of a monetary workshop in the 14th century suggests significant economic activity, while ramparts and ditches reflect protection needs in a disputed area. The partial destruction of fortifications in the 19th century (movement of the cemetery in 1854) and in the 20th century (destruction of the tower in 1927) altered this heritage, but the tower of the Witches remains an emblematic vestige of this turbulent history.

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